How to Fertilize New Silver Maple

The underside of the silver maple leaf is a silvery-white color.

Silver maple (Acer saccharinum) is a fast-growing shade tree that reaches height of up to 100 feet with a 50 foot spread. Silver maple will grow in soil conditions that other trees wouldn't tolerate, although they do not grow well in alkaline soils. They also can be planted in full sun to partial shade conditions. The trees are found in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Fertilizer is not necessary for established trees, but new trees benefit from the added nutrients.

1

Amend soil before planting to make it more acidic, if necessary. Do a soil test to determine soil pH. The pH for silver maples can be between 4.5 and 7.5. If it is above 7.5, dig peat moss, aluminum sulfate or sulfur into the soil to lower pH. Follow package instructions for usage. Incorrect soil pH can prevent the tree from properly absorbing nutrients.

2

Add 2 ounces of slow release fertilizer (19-5-17) to the backfill soil when you plant the silver maple. Do not use soluble fertilizers the first year after planting the tree.

3

Test the soil to find out which nutrients are lacking in your soil for future application of fertilizer. Phosphorus is necessary for tree growth and root development, but it should not be added to soil if it is already present in sufficient quantities. You can purchase a kit to test for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, or you can send the sample to a cooperative extension service for testing to get a more complete report.

4

Add nitrogen fertilizer after the first growing season at a rate of 0.2 to 0.4 pounds per 100 square feet. If there is turf grass around the maple, use two applications of 0.1 pounds per 100 square feet. Apply in a 12 1/2-foot radius around the tree, which is about a 500-square-foot area. Spread the fertilizer on the surface of the soil and water thoroughly to move the fertilizer to the tree roots. Apply half of the nitrogen in the spring and the other half in late fall to avoid damaging grass. Once the tree is 5 years old, it should no longer need fertilization.

About the Author

Jill Kokemuller has been writing since 2010, with work published in the "Daily Gate City." She spent six years working in a private boarding school, where her focus was English, algebra and geometry. Kokemuller is an authorized substitute teacher and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa.